5 Best Command Line Music Players for Linux

If you're a Linux user who loves to listen to music, then you're in luck! There are many command line music players available for Linux that can enhance your listening experience. Here are the top five command line music players for Linux

CMUS

CMUS is a lightweight, fast, and powerful music player for terminal. It has a simple and intuitive interface that allows you to quickly navigate through your music library. CMUS supports various audio formats such as MP3, FLAC, and WAV, among others. One of the standout features of CMUS is its ability to handle large music libraries with ease.

To install CMUS on your Linux machine, you can use your distribution's package manager. For example, on Ubuntu, you can install CMUS using the following command

sudo apt-get install cmus

Once installed, you can launch CMUS by typing cmus in the terminal.

MOC (Music On Console)

MOC, or Music On Console, is another popular command line music player for Linux. Like CMUS, MOC is lightweight and fast, making it ideal for older machines. It supports a wide range of audio formats, including MP3, Ogg, and FLAC.

One of the unique features of MOC is its ability to display album art in the terminal. It also supports various themes, allowing you to customize its appearance to your liking.

To install MOC on your Linux machine, you can use your distribution's package manager. For example, on Ubuntu, you can install MOC using the following command

sudo apt-get install moc

Once installed, you can launch MOC by typing mocp in the terminal.

MPD (Music Player Daemon)

MPD, or Music Player Daemon, is a powerful command line music player that can be controlled using a client interface. MPD runs in the background and can be controlled using various client applications, such as ncmpcpp and Sonata.

MPD supports various audio formats, including MP3, FLAC, and Ogg. It also supports various plugins, such as last.fm scrobbling and output to a sound card or ALSA.

To install MPD on your Linux machine, you can use your distribution's package manager. For example, on Ubuntu, you can install MPD using the following command

sudo apt-get install mpd

Once installed, you can launch MPD by typing mpd in the terminal.

NCMPCPP

NCMPCPP is a client interface for MPD that provides a powerful and customizable music player experience. It supports various features, such as tag editing, playlist management, and music library browsing.

NCMPCPP has a customizable interface that allows you to create your own keybindings and layout. It also supports various plugins, such as album art display and lyrics fetching.

To install NCMPCPP on your Linux machine, you can use your distribution's package manager. For example, on Ubuntu, you can install NCMPCPP using the following command

sudo apt-get install ncmpcpp

Once installed, you can launch NCMPCPP by typing ncmpcpp in the terminal.

MPlayer

MPlayer is a versatile media player that supports various audio and video formats. It can be used as a command line music player for Linux, allowing you to play your music files without any graphical interface.

MPlayer supports various audio formats such as MP3, Ogg, FLAC, and WAV, among others. It also has various audio processing features such as equalizer and audio filters.

To install MPlayer on your Linux machine, you can use your distribution's package manager. For example, on Ubuntu, you can install MPlayer using the following command

sudo apt-get install mplayer

Once installed, you can launch MPlayer by typing mplayer followed by the path to your music file.

Key Features Comparison

Basic Usage Examples

Here are some basic commands to get you started with these players

# CMUS - Navigate library with arrow keys, 'c' to play/pause
cmus

# MOC - Use 'q' to quit, 'p' to play/pause
mocp

# MPlayer - Play a specific file
mplayer /path/to/your/music.mp3

# MPD with NCMPCPP client
mpd && ncmpcpp

Conclusion

Linux users have excellent options when it comes to command line music players. Whether you prefer standalone players like CMUS and MOC, or the powerful MPD daemon with clients like NCMPCPP, there's a solution for every need. These command line music players offer efficiency, customization, and low resource usage perfect for any Linux setup.